Jackrabbit Mountain Trailhead Added

We’ve added the Jackrabbit Mountain trailhead to both MTBikeWNC and HikeWNC. Although the trail system was designed with mountain biking in mind, it’s a pleasant place to hike as well, being close to the campground and lake. For mountain bikers, though, the experience here couldn’t be better. Purpose-built for mountain bikes as a “stacked loop” trail system, an easy, central loop (with that name) leads you to junctions with other loops that are harder as they reach out toward the lakeshore.

Overall, none of the trails here are terribly difficult – but there are some areas which require a bit more technical skill and effort to climb. For the most part, these are the kind of fast, flowing, and smooth trails you’d expect for a lakeshore trail system – similar to Tsali or the W. Kerr Scott trail system. And there’s a nice picnic area at the trailhead parking by the lakeshore to round out your trip.

It’s been nearly a year since we attended the grand opening and we wish we could’ve gotten the info out sooner. But for your patience, along with the trail info, we have full GPS maps of all the trails for you to download. Enjoy!

jordan_wncoutdoors

Sonya – I think the mixed use system has worked well here in WNC. All trails on public property open to bikes – with the possible exception of Alexander Mountain Bike Park – are open to hikers as well. In general, mountain bikers should always formally yield to hikers. Doing so should be no more difficult than avoiding any other potential obstacle on the trail – rocks, logs, animals, holes, stream crossings, etc. And hikers in the area are usually courteous and move to let bikes pass, even though technically they don’t have to yield. It seems to work pretty well!

WNCOutdoors.info

Jimmy – Jackrabbit was built by the US Forest Service, in cooperation with SABA (the Southern Appalachian Bicycling Association – http://sabacycling.com/ ) and the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association. Systems like this are often built by local groups working with landowners like the Forest Service. Jackrabbit is prime, shining example!